C-section or Induction?

[BloomingSunflower]

Looking for personal experiences of the above.

This is my first baby after 6 miscarriages and several years of trying, so it’s been a stressful journey to say the least. I also have GD, which is completely diet controlled and baby is on the 60th centile. Our boy is due at the end of the month which is super exciting.

Baby was breech up until this morning when we found out he was head down. I was already booked for a C-section due to him being breech at 35 weeks. The consultant has given me the choice to be induced, or stick with the C-section (if labour doesn’t happen on its own). I have spent most of my time since getting home trying to research and find statistics about inductions and csections, but it doesn’t seem to come to much.

My gut is telling me to stick with the C-section, and I’ve psyched myself up for it, despite the extra risk.

So… I turn to you. Please tell me all your experiences, positive and negative.

If you really want to know? I had an attempted induction at 38 weeks and literally nothing happened (no dilation, no contractions) except I spent 3 awful nearly sleepless nights on the labour ward and ended up having a caesarean anyway. The caesarean itself was a positive calm experience and I recovered well (of course this is not guaranteed). When I had my second child I resisted all persuasion to try for a VBAC and had a planned caesarean, which was again a positive calm experience with good recovery. No regrets.

My personal view is that inductions work best if your body just needs a little nudge to get started. And for me at 38 weeks that just wasn’t the case.

Good luck whatever you decide xx

I agree with the above poster in that inductions might work best when it's time anyway
I had a fantastic (if you can call birth that) induction....no drip, just the gel. Baby was out within 7 hours, no epidural needed or complications other than a tear.

But it was 3 days before my due date and I think he was ready to emerge anyway

Induction with the first (and vaginal delivery) and a planned cesarian with the second. Compared with the difficult first birth, I found planned cesarean safer, better managed, and I recovered faster.

Whatever you choose, my only tip is that if you do go for the c-section, go the elective route rather than trying the induction first. Planned cesarean is actually much lower risk than the emergency one (something that they don't always differentiate in the stats when talking about risks).